DC Comics' Wonder Woman 1984 is getting a comic book tie-in ahead of its theatrical release. Fans of the DC Cinematic Universe have been waiting longer than expected for the sequel to the 2017 original Wonder Woman, due to several delays that have put off the film for nearly a year. DC Comics has announced an appetizer to build that hype back up: Wonder Woman 1984 #1, a one-shot comic that offers more adventures of Wonder Woman finding her place in the greed- and synthesizer-driven era, hitting shelves this September.
WW84 is another period piece, this time pushing forward to the 1980s and setting Princess Diana of Themiscyra against a backdrop of shopping malls, neon lights, and pumping aerobics music. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Chris Pine as love interest Steve Trevor make a return, facing off against Pedro Pascal as ruthless mogul Max Lord and Kristin Wiig as the troubled but deadly Cheetah. The movie was originally slated for December 2019, before the competition with The Rise of Skywalker pushed it to summer 2020. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, further delaying the movie to its current October 2nd slate.
As DC announced in a press release, Wonder Woman 1984 #1 comes in ahead, hitting Walmart retail shelves on Sunday, September 20th, and then becoming available at local comics shops and digital providers on Tuesday, September 29th. The 32-page one-issue special features two original storylines. The first features Louise Simonson (returning to Wonder Woman after the recent graphic novel Warbringer) co-writing with Anna Obropta (associate producer for the Wonder Woman 1984 movie), with art by Bret Blevins. In it, Wonder Woman must save the day from a hostage situation at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History without endangering her tour group. The backup story is written by Steve Pugh (artist of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass) and illustrated by Marguerite Sauvage and delivers a parable of the corporate wasteland of the 1980s as a greedy mastermind steals Wonder Woman's legendary Lasso of Truth, leading Diana and Steve Trevor on a race to get it back. Check out the preview, complete with a cover from artist Nicola Scott:
Wonder Woman 1984 #1 is shaping up to be a treat for both established readers of Wonder Woman comics who are taking interest in the world of the movie and moviegoers looking for an easy-to-access entry point to the source medium. It also provides for anyone looking for more stories of the Amazon navigating the late 20th century. With the help of highly-celebrated creators like Louise Simonson and Steve Pugh, this 80s hit is the cure for any DC fan looking for a new order.
Wonder Woman 1984 #1 from DC Comics releases at participating Walmart stores on Sunday, September 20th, and then at operating comic book stores and participating digital retailers on Tuesday, September 29th.